Three Esquimalt firefighters jumped into the Gorge Waterway to rescue a man being swept out with the tide on Thursday. The man’s condition is unknown.
A report of a person in the water near Gorge Bridge came in about 5 p.m. Esquimalt firefighters, Victoria and Saanich police, and a rescue boat responded. When the firefighters arrived, they could see a man flailing in the water, said assistant fire chief Troy Saldana.
Three firefighters swam to the man, who was about 45 metres downstream from the bridge. The firefighter who reached him first towed him halfway to shore before the other two took over.
“He was still conscious and thrashing, but by the time members could make it to his side … he was [face] down in the water,” Saldana said.
The man was conscious and talking by the time he got into an ambulance, Saanich police Sgt. Dean Jantzen said. No foul play is suspected, Jantzen said, and alcohol is believed to be a factor.
Firefighters and police don’t know where the man lives or his age, though he was described as elderly. “We have no idea where he entered the water,” Saldana said. “All we can confirm is the tide appeared to be going out, so he was swept out.”
Emergency crews from several jurisdictions responded because of the bridge’s location between Esquimalt and Saanich. “It was a significant response from both sides of the Gorge, which happens at the border,” Jantzen said.
Saldana asked the public to be mindful of water safety. “We live on an island with lots of coastline and the water at this time of year is extremely cold. Be aware of the danger and keep an eye on your kids near the water.”
This is a corrected version of an earlier story.
